Filling apparatus



March 4, 1930. M. scHNAlER '1,749,151

FILLING APPARATUS Filed July 11. 1925 z sheets-sheet 1 hmm.,

...'Nlunlllmxll'v' nvamtoz March 4, 1930. M. scHNAlER 1,749,151

FILLING APPARATUS I Filed Ju'1y'11. '1925 2 sneetss'neet 2 lll Hull.

HIM.

.Patented Mar. 4, 193`r PATENT OFFICE f MILTON SCHNAIER, OE NEW YORK, N.Y.

FILLING APPARATUS Application led July 11,

a plurality of measuring cylinders lsupplied from the tank, and ymeansfor supporting a ends in alignment with the lower or discharge :ends ofthe; measuring cylinders.

apparatus voftliis class, which is'of simple l and ruggedwonstructionand capable of speedily chargingthe `molds and without substantial delaybetween successive charging '25 "operations f Another object is toprovide asanitary device of the type mentioned, which `can be ac-ytuated by an unskilleduser, andy more particularly which requires nosequence of steps f so vrbut merely a single non-selective operation.

f Ajfeature of the invention `is the provisionv of-self-drainingventing'means in the meas- 'uring cylinders for insuring the rapidemptying and yrefillingthereof.` VThis feature is of yparticularimportance where heavy Syrups or (the like are to kbe handled and wherehorizontal vents might become clogged and :ineffec-v 1 tive, or theoperation rendered slow by slugy gish iiow of viscous liquids. Y l 40'wNotwithstanding the` use of the venting means, should the liquidrecharge the measury Y ing cylinders, by a 'suddenrusln there would be alikelihood' of thel air inthe cylinder blocking the free flow of theliquid thereinto,

and thereby seal the'vent and also preclude complete filling of thecylinder. Itis, accordn f singly, another object to break up the streamf recharging the cylinder or to reduce its crossor shifting An objectofthe invention-is to providel ytive position proJects from one side ofthe machine, said tray supporting means being 1925. seran Nb. 42,877.

sectionalV area, so` that the liquid flows downward while the airtherein readily escapes through the vent. This result is accomplished bythe simple expedient of providing a plurality of small inlet portsrather than one large .port at the top of the measuring cylinders. f y

Another object is to provide convenient means lfor filling, groups of abattery of molds ory containers to be successively charged and thiswithoutthe need for lifting, raising mass. Preferablyv the molds are ontray units mounted on rails and shifted by a simple manual thrust tobring the groups of molds sucseries of containers or molds withtheiropen' cessively in registry with the measuring cylinders, a stop onthe guide rail facilitating v such registry.

The tray supporting means when in operatype, rigidly connected upon astem through the cylinder, various stems' simultaneously depressed fordischarge by a thrust transmitted through a cross bar directly over theupper ends of the stems, springs about the stems returning the valves tonormal position'in which they are re-charged.y

The cross bar is provided preferably with threaded plugs'adjustable toeffect minute adjustments in the settings of the valves of theindividual measuring cylinders, so that all of the valves will beelfectively seated at the same time.

The invention may be more fully understood from the followingdescription in connection with the accompanying drawings, 'wherein, i4,5 so that air would temporarily at least, susk tain-the liquid nearthe top of thecylinder Fig. 1 isa longitudinal vertical sectionalanyrelatively bulky or heavy View7 therethrough taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 2--2 ofFig. l,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional ing from 26 into 16 andeffectively prevents v the top of the posts, I provide a horizontalsupporting platform 12 including downwardly turned marginal flanges 13secured to the uprights 10. A reservoir 1a is held against lateraldisplacement by the upper ends `ofthe corner posts and includes asubstantially,y closed bottom resting yon the platform 12.

Thelplatforin has a number of threadedopenings 15 therein adaptedtoreceive the lower sections 16 of the measuring cylinders,l as

will be later described.l Preferably the res#` ervior 14is provided witha removable cover 17 having a convenient socket opening.- 18 therein forsupporting the mouth of a bottle or demijohn 19k from which thereservoir is lled, and is provided with a protected vent opening such as14a. A. drainiplug 14 is controlled by a manually operatedk drain` Iprovide a battery of measuring cylinders andinasmuch as they are allidentical, a description of one cylinder and its associated valving andventing' mechanism will' suliice for all. cated in detail in Fig. 3,wherein4 it will be noted that the lower section 16 is aleiigth of pipehaving itsupper end extending through the opening 15in the platform,said cylinder formed at itsA lower end with a reduced portion 20providing a downwardly facing yvalve seat 21 for a valve 22 carried onthe lower end of vertically disposed valve stem 23 extendp ingthroughout the length of the cylinder andA having its upper endprojecting through 'Y an opening 211 in the reservoir cover. Valve 22 isof rubber or other suitable yielding material backedby a metal washer 22and urged by pressure transmitted by nut 222 threaded on the end ofshaft 23 against a shoulderl 23 on stem 23. The upper end of section 16has a threaded connection with a coupling member 25 engaging the upperface of platform 12, a double loclr nut 56 on cylinder 16 engaging thelower face of the platform Yand thereby effecting ak secure connection.25 receives the inner end of upper section 26 of the measuring cylinderwhich is threaded thereinto.l Stem 23 is guided in a collar 55` incylinder 16 and in a spider or apertured plate 25a fixed within thecoupling member. `This plate sub-divides the liquid stream flowthe airblocking which lmight ensuev from sudden inrush of a large stream.

One of the cylinders has beenvindi-.i`

Coupling y Section 26'V is closed by cap 27 oifering an additional guidefor thevalve stem 23 and is provided with a number of inlet ports 28 inits convex wall open to the fluid in the reservoir. Stem y23 carries asecond valve 29 lpreferably ofv rubber or equivalent yielding material,workingk in the upper section 26 of tliecylinder and coacting with yanupwardly facing valve seat 30 formed in the.r coupling vmember.

Valve 29. prevents flow" of liquid fromr sec-- A'tion 26 Vto section 16when the valve stem is 7'5 depressedlw An expansion spring 31 aroundixed'on'the stein by set screw 32 normally tends to maintain. 4the Vstemin elevated posi tion 'with the valve 29 open and the valveV 22 seated.lThus the contents of the reservoiry ythe stem between the cap 27 and acollar 32 Y are freerto flow i' throughthe ports' 28andy* around thevalve 29 into theflowersection 16 which serves" asaameasuring chamber.,n loblique self-draining ventj openingA 33 inthe couplingmember 25v is.connected to,` agstand pipe 34y which terminates above the. liquid,-`

vlevelin the reservoir. litliftl'ie'parts' in theposition of Fig. 3, theliquid-'will flow up the pipe 34Vv to?y an extent predetermined by' theliquid level in the reservoir. lThe vent 33,y 34

im` Y provides for the ready escape of'air from the measuring chamber tofill said chamber.

y When the valve stemisde}l)ressed` to close .i valvey 29 and openvalve22', the contents of Q `thepineasuring chamber'and the stand pipeas :the liquid Vis admitted will flow downwardby gravity around the ivalve 22. v In order to prevent. the liquid escaping from the`measuringchamber from splashing-off the surface of the Vvalve 22, I eX-fie@- teri'orly tbreadtlfie lower end of sectionll6 as Y l at 35, andcouple theretoa discharge nozzleL 36 having a' reduced discharging .end37,. This construction insures quiet llow of the `*liquidfrom.tlieineasuring chamber into theV container tobefilled, which.. issupported in' receiving position in a'm-anner to be, more fullyhereinafter described;

Numerous expedients might be resorted tof for Asimulta'neously operating'all of the valve stems` .andl permitting simultaneoiisfVv filling andemptyiiigofall the measuring cylinders.v j l prefer to use a simpleconstruction of opere ating yoke which includes vertical rods 38 workingin guide openingsA in braces 11Kpro- Jecting fromthelegs 10.V A crossyhead 40 is"V provided' with screw plugs 11 screwed'.finto lopeningsl2therein, said, plugs forming stops for the spring pressed stems 23 and.acting to simultaneously depress said stems'to actuate the individualfillers,vv when lthel cross head isv f moved downward. p The cross head"is guided;l for vertical vmovement bystandards 40?* car-jA ried bythereservoir cover, and preferably encircled by=spriiigs31a; The upper endsof the' plugs are provided with` fillister slots 41@ for facility ofindependent' adjustment tli'eref. of the Aaid of `va screwdriver,toinsure j proper simultaneousseating. and' unse-atingyoffa'llrthevalves. A crossbar 43 connecting the lower eiids'ior rods 38is coupled'by a pull i bar 45 to a treadl'e lever`44 pivoted in acrossbar 46i-in thelower end of the frame:

- It :willbe understood that normally the liquid from reservoir 14 willenter theindi- Y vidual measuring chambers.throughports 28, air`blockingbeing prevented. by theeifective venting of saidi'chambers.through vents y valve. stems downwardtherewith against they resistanceoftheir associated springsy 31 and of springs 31l gto close the-valves 29and open ythe valves y22. yThe measured charges fiow Y outward bygravi-tyflow from the individual 33 and stand pipes 34 and also by thepressure oftheapertured plate EL which sub-divides the liquidstream-`The syrup 4will also'seeli the-same level instand pipes 34 as inthe'reservoir 14. Depression 'of the treadlel pulls down the*k cross bar43and through rods 38l draws down the cross head and moves all of the y'cylinders 16, through nozzles 36 to the molds 50 positioned therebelow.Upon release of the treadle, the combined lifting action'of 4the 25rfjtheir. normal position shown iniFig. 4 with the outlets from vthemeasuring chambers closed and with the valves '29 open to permit free.refilling fromthereservoir of the measpipes, as presprings 3l and 31awill restore the partsto uring chambers `and thestand viously set forth.

,Y The'arrangement of theobliquevents in thecouplings v25 isofparticular importance when the liquid whichk is being handled, isl

heavy or viscous, suchgfor'finstance, as the fluid ySyrups used in theymanufacture of confections-described `in the copending applicationAabovel identified. Thevent 33, yopening i downward is self-draining and,therefore, 4o

cannot become*liquid-sealed as might occur ifit opened horizontallyfintothe chamber.

Moreover, the diameter ofthe stand` pipe is suiiicientlylarge tod-'rainalmost immediately pipe.r Y f i i i For conveniently supportingcontainers in when valvev 22 is opened, especiallyy inview ofthehydrostaticliead of liquid in the stand position .to be filled by thedischarge contents of they measuring chambers,-l secure `a pair yofrails47 between the legs lO'at a point just f below tliedischargenozzles 36. These rails i Y may be providedjwith pivoted extensions 48 ly f held inl li'orizontalposition by hangers 49del i tachably engaged'with the upper ends of the fpostsrlO. By dieengaging the hangers, theVrail extensions4 `may be swung `,downwardly i vand out of tlievway. `Ihave'shown confection jmold containers, such as those described in `the'copending application abovereferred to.

kThese containers 50 mayv havevr their necksy hung in trays 51 assetforth in said applicay y tion, orfthey may be .formed in a unit withsaid trays. A number yof the trays may be f supported in abuttingrelationship-on ythe guide rails 47, 48. Small stop lugs 52 on the railsare used for aligning the trays with they discharging nozzles 36. Inoperation, a number of the trays are placed on the rails and theoutermosttray pushed inward until the innermostone is stopped by thelugs 52. The

treadle is then depressed sharply, to avoid maintaining the valves foran appreciable pef riod between kthe limit of their stroke. The contentsof the measuring chambers thus discharge into the molds carried by theinnermost tray, the seated valves 29 preventing discharge beyond themeasured quantity. The vent 14a maintains atmospheric pressure in thereservoir 14 above the liquid level therein and vent tubes 84communicating therewith, maintain such pressure in the measuringcylinders.

The stop lugs offer enough resistance to the sliding movement of themold tray to apprise an operator feeding the trays that one has reachedproper position but do not offer suilicient resistance to prevent thesame movement from causing a filled tray to ride thereover and out onthe rail extensions 53 to be subsequently placedon the freezing chamber.Accordingly, the need .for separate handling is avoided, ywhich would beincurred were it necessary to separately lift each filled mold rack fromthe machine, and to manually deposit an empty one in position forcharging.

scribed apparatus in which the several features of this invention areembodied, and

'ing sense.

rHavingy thus described myvinvention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters-Patent ofthe United' States is 1. An apparatus of theclass described in- -cluding a. reservoir, a plurality of measuringcylinders having their upper ends in connnuication with the reservoir,inlet valves Vof diameters substantially the same as the diameters kofthe cylinders and above the latter, outlet valves at the lower ends ofthe cylinders and self-draining ports opening into the upper ends of themeasuring' cylinders substantially directly below said inlet valves,whereby liquid may flow freely into the measuring cylinders when theoutlet valves yare closed andtheinlet valves opened and may flow freelyout of the measuring cylinders It will thusbeseen that there is hereindev ',f? whereby liquid may lOW freely inl/,O

when the inlet valves are closed and the out-vV let valves opened, y 2.kAnapparatus of the class described including a reservoir, a plurality ofmeasur-V the upper ends of the measuring cylinders.

substantially directly below said inlet valves,

whereby liquid may ow freely into the measuring cylinders when theoutlet valves are p? closed and thev inlet valves opened and mayliowfreely o ut oi' the measuring cylinders` when the inlet valves areclosed and the out-` let valves opened, said ports entering themeasuring cylinders obliquely and vertical stand pipes connected to theouter ends of the ports and extending to a level higher than that of theliquid in the reservoir. Y n e 3. ln apparatus of the class describedincluding a reservoir and filling chamber there- T' in, a. plurality ofnieasuring cylinders 'therein extending belowsaid reservoir and havingtheir upper ends in Communication with the lilling chambers inthereservoir, caps closing the upper ends 'of the.V chambers, valve 3o?stems vertically guided through said caps, in

letand outlet valvescarried byv said stems, the `former of substantiallythe diameter of said cylinders and normally open, the latter `'normallyAclosed to normally maintain the cylinders charged and to eiiectdischarge upon raising said stems and self-draining portssubstantiallydirectly below said inlet valves draining into the upperends of the measuring cylinders and venting the same, and out of themeasuring cylinders. l Y

l. In apparatus otl the class described, a reservoir, a platform,cylindrical measuring Containers, cylindrical inlet members comfgmunicating with said reservoir, said`containers and said inlet members,at opposite sides of said platform, coupling members interposed betweenand rigidly connecting said containers and said members, valve stemsexotending through the measuring containers and cylindricalmembers,inlet valves carried bythe stems seating to prevent flow from the uppercylindrical member into the lowermeasuring container, outletvalves'carried by 'saidstems and seating at the lower ends of jthemeasuring chambers to prevent emptying of the contents thereof and meansfor simultaneously operating all of the valves, whereby lto openV allot' the outlet valves and close all of the inlet valves or vice versa.

5. A device of theclass described in claim 4 and wherein a cross headoperated by a treadle contacts the upper ends of alll of the yvalvestems, and coiled springs around the valve stems normally tend tomaintain the outlet-valves closed and theinlet valvesropenn 6. A deviceof vthe class describedin claim 4l wherein obliquejlyldisposed ventingports Y communicatewith the upper ends of the measuring cylinders andkvertical `stand-pipes connected to thel ports, terminate-above theliquidv level in the reservoir.

i. A device tor measuringand dispensing liquids, including a two-partcontainer, the f upper part of said container constituting an entrancechamber and.k having inlet ports therein, the lowerv part of saidcontainer con* stit-uting a measuring chamber andl having a venttherein,said lower Vpart including a coupling'fmember connectingthe two parts orthe container, a valve stem extendingY through. both parts of thecontainerand the coupling thereof, an inlet valve carried by the stemseating on the coupling: member to` therein, the lower part of saidcontainer constituting a measuring chamber and having a vent therein,said lower part including acou- Y pling member Vconnecting kthe twolyparts* ofy thecontainer, a valve stem extending through for measuringand 'dispensing siii both parts ofthecontainer and the coupling thereof,:an inlet -valve Vcarried by` the stem seating onthe coupling membertoprevent iowfrom the inlet chamber to the measuring 'l chamber, and anoutlet valve carried by the .stem and closing the lower end of thevmeasuring chamber when the inlet' valve` 1s open',

and a spring around the valve stem normally tending to' maintain'theyoutlet valvek closed and the inlet valve open, wherebyiquid from theinlet' chamber may flow reel'y'jaroundy the inlet valve to themeasuringfchamber.

Y 9. A 'device tor measuring and dispensing liquids, including atwo-part container, the

upper part of said container constitutingv an Y entrance' chamber andhaving inlet ports therein, thelower' part of said container con-vstituting a measuring chamber and Yhaving a vent therein-"said lowerpartincluding a cou'- 'pling` memberconnecting the two-partslofr the,container, avalvestem extending through both parts of the container andthe coupling thereof, an inl'etvvalve carriedvbyv the stem,

seating' on the couplingmember to prevent liow from the inlet chambertothe measuring chamber, and an outlet 'valve carried bytheKA f stemandrvclosing the lower end of the meas'- uring chamber when the;V inletvalveis open. said ventbeing oblique and vdraini'nginto said measuringchamber, and anupstanding pipe connected to the vent in themeasuringcham-V ber and `exten-ding at onesidethereo.

`10. A device for measuring and dispensing liquids, including a two-partcontainer, the upper part of saidcontainer constituting an yentrancechamber and having inlet ports therein, the lower part of said containerconstituting a measuring chamber and having a vent therein, said lowerpart including-a coupling member connecting the two parts ofA thecontainer, ay valve stem extending-'through A both parts ofthe containerand the coupling thereof, an inlet valve, carried by thel stem seating on the coupling member to prevent iow from the inlet chamber tovthe'measuring chamber, and an outlet valve carried by the steml` andclosing the lower end of the f measuring chamber when the inlet valve;is

open, and a'discharge nozzle connected to the Y 'lower end of themeasuring chamber and enclosing .the valvey uwhereby to insure quietiiowy of liquid from the lmeasuring chamber.

11.V A device for measuring and dispensing liquids, including a two-partcontainer, theV upper part of said container constituting an Y ientrance chamber "and having inlet ports therein, the lower part of saidcontainer constituting a measuring chamber and having a vent therein,said lower part including a coupling member connectingthe two partsofthe container, a valve stem extending through both partsof thecontainerfand the coupling thereof, kan inlet valve carried by the stemseating on the coupling member to prevent flow from the inlet chambertothe ymeasuringchamber, and an outlet valve carried by the stem andclosing, the lower end of the measuring chamber when the inlet valve isopen, and means in the coupling member for -rsubdividing y and breakingup the liquid measuring chamber;

stream which flows therethrough `into the 12. A device for measuring anddispensing fliquidaineluding avr two-part container, the

upper part of. said container constituting an entrance chamber andhaving inlet ports therein, thev lower part of said container cconstituting a measuring chamber, means to f venty the latter, acoupling member connecting the two parts of the container, a valve stemextending through the coupling and 50., carried by the stem seatingonfthe coupling both parts of the container, an inlet valve i member toprevent kflow from .the inlet chambery to the measuring-chamber, and anoutlet valve carried by^the stem and closing thel lower end of themeasuring chamber when si the inletvalve is open, and means inthecoupling member for sub-dividing and breaking up vthe liquid streamwhich flows therethroughv into the measuring chamber, saidmeanscomprising 1an apertured guide plate.

13. In combination with a platform having a threaded opening therein, a.two-part measuring and dispensing device including a lower'measuringchamber having its upper end threaded into the opening in the platform,a coupling member ,connected to th'eupper threaded end of the measuringcontainer, an entrance cylinder screwed into the coupling member andhaving inlet ports therein adapted to freely communicate with areservoir above the platform, a valve seat at the lower end of themeasuring container, avalve seat in the coupling member, a valve stemprojecting through both chambers, and

through the coupling members, outlet and "A inlet'valvescarried therebyfor coaction with the respective seats, a spring yaround the valve stemnormally tending to seat the outlet valve at the lower end of" themeasuring container and to open the Vinlet valve, said coupling memberhaving a vent therein communicating with the measuring container,whereby to permit rapid flow of liquidI from the inlet chamber into themeasuring Chamber when the inlet valve is open. f

- 14. In combination with a platform having a threaded opening therein,a two-part measuring and dispensing device including a lower measuringchamber having its upper endhthreaded into'the opening in the platform,a coupling member connected to the vupper threaded vend of the measuring"container, an entrancecylinder screwed into the coupling member and yhaving inlet ports therein adapted to freely communicate with areservoirabove the platform, a valve seat at' the lower end of themeasuring'container, a valve rseat in the coupling member, a valve stemprojecting through both chambers, and

through thel coupling'members, outlet and inlet valves carried therebyfor coaction with the respective seats, a spring aroundl the valve stemnormally tending to seat the outlet valve at the lower end of themeasuring container and to open the inlet valve, said coupling'memberhavinga vent therein communicating with vthe measuring container,whereby to permit rapid flow of liquid from the -inlet chamberint-o theymeasuring chamber when the inlet valve is open, and a spider guidingthe movement of the valve stem through the coupling member and dividingthe liquid stream to'permit air blocking in the measuring'container.

15. In apparatus of the class described, a reservoir, aplatform,`cylindrical measuring containers, cylindrical inlet memberscomiso Y taneously operating all of the valves', Whereby to open all ofthe outlet valves and close all of the inlet/valves or vice versa, andacross head having a plurality of contactmembers adjustable therein andengageable with the upper ends of the valve stems to eect simultaneousdepression thereof.

'Vio

16. A device of the character described in-v cluding, in combination, areservoir, a cylinder extending therebelow, a .coupling member kthreadedupon said cylinder and substantially engaging the bottom of saidreservoir, an inlet cylinder member threaded into theupper end of said'coupling member, a stem extending through said cylinders and saidcoupling7 a valve at the lower end of said stem normally closing theoutlet of saidcylinder, a valve on said stem adapted to close thel inletto said cylinder when the stem is depressed, said coupling beingperforated toV sub-'divide the stream of liquidin itsdescent from saidinlet cylinder to said measuring cylinder, and an oblique self-drainingvent in saidy coupling member having a vent pipe v connected to thelower end thereof extending upward above the level of liquid in saidreser-` forthl are disposed in side by side relation in thereservoir andin which operating means actuated by a pedal simultaneously depressessaid various stems and in which a spring about each of said stems eectsre-\ turn ofsaid stems afterdischarge to re-seat the outlet valve and tounseat the inlet valve' fory permitting refilling of the measuringcylinders.

18. In a device ofthe character described',l

in combination,` ak reservoir, a battery of measuringv cylindersprotruding downward below the bottom of saidireservoir and havingportions extending thereabove, recipro catingcontrol valves in saidcylinders, a stem operating the valves 'of each .cylinder, springsurging said stems upward to vpermit charging of said cylinders and tomaintainsaid -,cylinders against discharge, a common operating pmember`extending transversely across the upper ends of said various stems andscrew plugs insaid operating member, one against'each of said stems,said plugs adjustable to effect accuracy in setting ofthe variousvalves.

Signed at .city of New York,- in the county of New York and State of NewYork, this 8th day of July, A. D. 1925.

- MILTON scnuiunn. v

17. The combination set `forth in claim 16y in which a plurality of thevalve units set

